Stratford sets dates to celebrate 375th

John Burgeson

Updated 9:14 pm, Sunday, February 2, 2014

STRATFORD -- Three Hundred and seventy-five years ago, a plucky group of settlers from England led by the Rev. Adam Blakeman arrived on the shore of what is now the Stratford side of the Housatonic River.

Back then it was the Native American village of Cupheg, and exactly what happened to those indigenous inhabitants remains murky. By 1643, the settlement, at a location called Mac's Harbor, was called Stratford. It seems that the father of one of those first settlers was from Stratford-on-Avon, the home of William Shakespeare.

So, to celebrate, the town's 375th Anniversary Committee has planned a series of events that will begin with a "375 Kickoff" at the Perry House on April 6 and end with a holiday festival on Dec. 2.

"We have a lot of great events to celebrate the 375th," said Amy Knorr, who heads the committee, "and we hope that everyone in town is able to attend some of the events and reflect on the town's storied history."

Stratford is one of four towns in Connecticut celebrating a 375th; the others are Guilford, Milford and Fairfield, and all are planning a series of special events to mark the occasion.

Anchoring the springtime events will the Memorial Day parade on May 26.

"The parade will be extra special this year, because we'll remember 375 years of Stratford's achievements and those who made these achievements possible," Knorr said.

This will be followed by the Main Street Festival on June 7 and an art competition at Two Roads Brewery, with the date to be announced.

"We'll also have a softball tournament that will pit Stratford against the other towns celebrating 375 years," Knorr said.

Other events planned include fireworks on the night of July 3, the Blues on the Beach event on July 26 and the eighth annual Festival Stratford on the grounds of the former American Shakespeare Theatre from July 30 to Aug. 3.

About the same time, from July 31 to Aug. 5, town officials will host people from the other Stratfords in the world in what's being called the Reunion of the Stratfords of the World 2014. Visitors from other towns with the same name will be given tours of the town and other historic places in Connecticut.

Other events include a clam bake in early September, an Early American Festival on Sept. 21, a Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 18 and the Holiday Festival on Dec. 2.